Explosive cartridge



1929- w. o. SNELLING ET AL 1,738,402

- EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGE Filed sep 1925 Dec. 3, 19 29 Patent @1 WALTER O. SNELLING AND GUY A. RUPP, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS T TROJAN POWDER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATTON OF NEW YORK EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGE Application filed September 30,1925. Serial No. 59,526.

This invention relates to explosive cartridges and has a particularly valuable application to demolition cartridges used in warfare.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a cartridge, including an explosive charge and means for detonating the explosive, in which provision is made for rendering the detonating means normally incapable of m functioning to detonate the explosive charge,

and for rapidly obtaining by manual means the operative relation of charge and detonator.

The invention further resides in the novel 5 and advantageous means for rendering the detonating means normally incapable of functioning to detonate the explosive charge.

The invention also contemplates the provision of novel means, including the fuse, electric wires or equivalent part or mechanism, for obtaining the operative relation between charge and detonator.

In the attached drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a cartridge made in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that in Fig. 1 but showing the detonator in operative relation with the explosive charge, and

, Fig. 3 is a modification within the scope of the invention.

A demolition cartridge as used in the military art generally consists of a package of explosive of such size and shape as to render it readily adapted for attachment to the particular object to be demolished, such for example as the steel rails of railways, tension members of bridges or like structural members, or such objects as boilers, machines, and. even buildings. These cartridges, as a rule, are relatively small and are composed mainly of the explosive itself, the container Where used being such as to render the explosive substantially unconfined as compared with ordnance material, such as shells, drop bombs, mines, and the like.

. In the use of demolition explosives, and particularly in warfare, it is often essential that the explosive be brought into primed or operating condition very rapidly. In many instances there is not suflicient allowable time to permit the insertion of a detonator in the usual manner. It is highly unsafe, on the other hand, to carry the explosive 1n primed condition.

In the present invention, we associate detonating means with an explosive charge in such manner as to render the detonator incapable of performing its normal function, and make provision for bringing detonator and explosive charge, with rapidity and convenience, into primed relation.

With reference to the drawings, in which we have illustrated an embodiment of our invention, 1 indicates the envelope of a cartridge containing an explosive charge 2. The cartridge also includes a detonator 3 which in the present instance is located in a cavity in the explosive charge itself and which normally is separated from the charge by cushioning means 4 which may consist of papier mach, balsa wood or any appropriate material so shaped and of such size that the detonator can explode without imparting detonation to the charge 2.

In the present instance, we provide a fuse 5 attached to the detonator 3 and projecting through the envelope 1, and this fuse is adapted in addition to its normal 'function as an igniter to constitute the means for moving the detonator from the protected position within the cushioning means to one in which it is capable of detonating the explosive charge.

During normal storageor in transportation, the detonator occupies the position shown in Fig. 1, within the cushioning means 4. the cartridge thereby being rendered safe. When ready for use, the fuse 5 is sharply pulled to bring the detonator into the narrow or constricted portion of the opening in the cartridge, as shown in Fig. 2, a suitable stop (not shown) being provided to prevent withdrawal from the cartridge of the detonator and to insure a proper operative positioning of the latter.

It will be evident that similar means may be employed for priming demolition cartridges with an electric exploder, as shown in Fig. 3. Also, appropriate means may be provided whereby the act of bringing the exploder and explosive charge into operative relation will ignite the fuse affording the required delay between the setting of the charge and detonation.

The device is capable of numerous embodiments and modifications. It is not essential, for example, that the exploder be the movable element, since the same results might be obtained by moving the cushioning means.

It further will be understood that the invention in its broader aspects may embrace any means for normally preventing detonation of the charge by explosion of the detonator in conjunction with means for manually bring ing these elements together and into operative relation.

We claim:

1. A demolition cartridge comprising a substantially unconfined explosivecharge, a detonator within said charge, means normally rendering the detonator on explodlng inoperative to detonate the charge, and manually-operated means for bringing the charge and the detonator into operative relation.

2. A demolition cartridge comprising a substantially unconfined explosive charge, a detonator within said charge, cushioning means intermediate the charge and the detonator for rendering the detonator on exploding normally inoperative to detonate the charge, and means operative from the exterior of the charge for changing thEZ-POSI- tion of at least one of said elements with respect to another to bring the charge and the detonator into operative relation.

3. A demolition cartridge comprising a substantially unconfined explosive, a detonator within .said charge, cushioning means intermediate the charge and the detonator for rendering the detonator on exploding normally inoperative to detonate the charge, and means for altering the relative positions of the cushioning means and the detonator to bring the charge and detonator into operative relation.

4. A demolition cartridge comprising a substantially unconfined explosive charge, a detonator within said charge, cushioning 'means normally intermediate the charge and the detonator and adapted in said normal position to render the detonator on exploding said ignition means for bringing the charge and the detonator into operative relation.

6. A demolition cartridge comprising a substantially unconfined explosive charge, detonating means associated, withsaid charge, cushioning means intermediate the charge and the detonating means for rendering the detonator on exploding normally inoperative to detonate the charge, an igniter for the detonator projecting through the exexplosive charge, and means including said igniter for bringing the charge and the detonator into operative relation.

7. A demolition cartridge comprising a substantially unconfined explosive charge, a detonator-embedded in said charge, igniting means for the detonator extending through the charge and projecting beyond the surface thereof, cushioning 'means normally intermediate the charge and thedetonator for rendering the detonator on exploding nor- .mally inoperative to detonate the charge, and

means including said igniting means for relatively moving the detonator and the cushioning means to bring the detonator into operative relation with the charge.

8. A demolition cartridge comprising a substantially unconfined explosive charge, an apertured cushioning element of soft fibrous material embedded in said charge, a detonator adapted normally to occupy a position in the interior of said cushioning element, in which position it is inoperative with respect to the explosive charge, and means for moving said detonator through the aperture into a position operative with respect to said charge.

WALTER O. SNELLING. GUY A. RUPP.

inoperative to detonate the charge, and manually-operated means for changing the position of at least one of said elements with respect to another to bring the charge and detonator into operative relation.

5. A demolition cartridge comprising a substantially unconfined explosive charge, detonating means for the charge positioned within the latter, means for igniting the detonating means, means for rendering the detonator on exploding normally inoperative to detonate the charge, and means including 

